Doc. 8064

6 April 1998

Obligations and commitments of Lithuania as a member state

Reply to Recommendation 1339 (1997)

from the Committee of Ministers

adopted on 31 March 1998 at the 625^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies

The Committee of Ministers has taken note Recommendation 1339 (1997) in which the Parliamentary Assembly decided to close the monitoring procedure concerning the fulfilment of Lithuania's obligations and commitments as provided by Order No. 508 (1995).

      It has transmitted Recommendation 1339 (1997) on the obligations and commitments of Lithuania as a member State to governments at its 606th meeting at Deputies’ level in October 1997.

      The Council of Europe/European Commission Joint Programme on legal reform and local democracy was completed on 31 December 1997. It enabled progress to be made regarding the police, the prison system and local government. It contributed in particular to the preparatory work for a possible ratification of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

      The Council of Europe continues to implement co-operation activities with Lithuania in the priority areas identified by the Parliamentary Assembly. The Council of Europe’s work has been expanded in areas such as abolition of the death penalty, prison reform and naturalisation, thanks to the payment of voluntary contributions by some member States.

Under the co-operation programmes with Lithuania special attention is paid to crime issues. Lithuania takes part in the Octopus Programme against corruption.